Cushioned wheel.



s. WAUHER. CUShlONED WHEEL.

APPLICATION HLED OCR-8,

Patented Dec. 17, 1918 I 2 SHEETSSHEETI III/MENTOR 560/9 6 WfiZi/zer;

A TTOR/VE Y G. WALTHER.

CUSHIONED WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 8.1917.

1 87,802. Patented Dec. 1 7, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a; 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA? 1 1 A TTORNEY vary 'tJnlTno' sT Es PATENT O I E--GEORGE WALTH' R, orfDAyToN, OHIO.

CUSHIONED HEEL,

To all 107L012; it may concern Be it'known that I, GEORGE "W L citizenof the United States, residing at.

Dayton, in the county; of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have lnven'tedcertanrnew find useful Improvements incu'shionecl .ll'h'eels. of whichthe following 1s a specifiration, reference-being. ha'cl-therem to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to cushionedWheels and more particularly to a.eushioned'wheel designed for use Wltll, heavy automobile trucks or thelike, although it is useful with v wheels'of various kinds.

Tlhe ohjeet-of the invention is to providencushioned wheel which Wlllthaveample: cushioning actionwithout"seriously impair ing its strength.

leis also an object oft-he invention to ide a cushioning device which'tvillimaintain thespa'c'e-hetn'een the two rims closed atjall times;and to make-itriinpossiblefor the outer wheel to be crushed off theinner wheelby lateral strains 7 i It is alsoan object of the inventionto so eonstructthe wheel that it can be readily assen'i-ljfled;- and"that the cushioningjdevu-e; when the wheel is assembled,-w ll be firmlysecured toboth rims; I

A further-object of' theinvention is to p1'o\ 'ide"a wheel ot th-is kindwhich will be.

imple in itsconstruction; which will' eoi'nprise but few parts; and\\iillfhave these parts'of su h a chan cter that thevean be easilimmutactured; j 4

In the zcrompan'ying drawings Figure-l is a side elevation, partl insection, of a portiont a wheel embodying my inven tion: Fig. 2 is asectioirta-ken transversely of the rim of such a wheel ;-I 1g.-3 sa sideelevation partlvbroken away of a modified form-of the invention, Fig. lis'a sectional view taken transversely of the view shown in Fig. 3 andFig; 5 is a cross sectional, detailof the rubber cushion, on a reducedscale.

In these drawings I have illustrated one eml'iodiment of my inventionand haveshown .the sameas applied to a metal wheel having the hub 1, thespokes 2 and the inner rim 3 east inone-pieee, but itwill .be understoodthat the particular type of Wheel to which the nventionls appliedjisimmaterial so long as the inner rim 1s ofa suitable character to receivethe cush on device. The

Specification of lettersPate n1;

- device is preferabl I upper portion of wheel provided vtith an outerrim tot a diameter sufficiently greater than the dianie provide-asp'ace'be: tween theitwo rims Within which to mount device; This outerrim may ter of the inner rim to the cushipning v p be of anya-suitablecharacter, but as here shown is, adapted to carrya rubber tire 5,

Patented, Dec. 17, 19-1 8." Application filed Qtober s, ten... SerialNo. 195,275..

whichni'ay be secured thereto in any suit-'- able -n1anner-.

nith depressions topermit the body of ma- ,terial tojbe distortedunderpressure, thus' [providing the cushion with a greater yieldev 'bil-itythan it would ha'veiif the cushion fit against:- the' rims throughout,itssnugly.

Intel-posed b.et\y een'.-the two I runs .is acushioning-device 6 ofreslllent ma-' of a Width substantially equal- One, or

as an annularband of I \vidthandwas capable of distortion atthe edgesonly. These depressions' may be ar ranged in any .desn'ed manner, but'ashere shown. I'have' fornlediin'both the inner and I -'outer surfaces ofthe cushion tgwo -ircum-;

ferenti'al grooves, as shown tit 7, which are spaced.snbstantially'l'l'lidvva" between the center of the cushion and 'tl1e lateral edgesthereof, although their exact location is not; "Vhen the wheel isunderload t.lu- 'lower po tion of the cushion will be -compressed andthe inner rim will move dmvnwardly \vitltrelation to the outer rim," t

the space bet-\vee-n t'he two of imp rtance.

thus decreasing run t the lo\\ 'e1-='p0rtion of the heel and increasingthis spat-eat: the u-pperportion of the wheel;-

It the cushion is of such a thiele 11e 's't'l1at it merely fills thespace between the two rims when the"; are in their normal downward orequidistant positions this movement of the inner rlnrnriill so increasethe -d1stance between the space lletfn'een the cushion and"'thefupperportion ofone of the rims, 1 nto which dust or other fOI'QlUl matter mayenter.'-To

t1\'01(l this resn' L I have-so. constructed the cushion that itlvilletnnpletely fill the space between the tivo rims in all relativepositions of -the tw'orims into which they are likely to he n'ioved inordinary service.- This -I' accornplish by forming the lateral portworims at the the wheel as to leave 21' 100.

ti'ons of the cushion, which in the present instance he beyond thegrooves 7, of a greater thickness and of a greater resiliencythan'tlie'cent-ral portion of the cushion, which lies between thegrooves. The central, or load-carryin portion, of the cushion.

. iiess greater than this distance and will con-1 .vtions yield more,readily than does the inner scquently be under slight compression whenthe tworimsare in their normal positions.

W hen the wheelis under load and the inner run moves downward relativelyto the outer run, the outer-portions of the cushion will expandsutliciently to increasetheir'thickness to correspond with, theincreaseddislances between the two riin's at'the upper por-' 20 tweenthe-rims completelyclosed at all times.

In the present instance the outer orth-icker v p I v tendingtransverselyot'the' cu'shion'afid of a length grcaterthan the width ot'the cushion.-These blocks or lugs are adapted to fit tion thereof, thus inaintainiiigthe space heportions ot'the cushion are provided with circumferentialopenings 8 to increase their resiliency, although this may heaccomplished in various ways. TlilS -construction ofthecushion not onlyserves to maintain the space between the-rims peri'nanently closed butit also increases the'cushion'ing action ot the device,because althoughtheouter perportion of the cushion they nevertheless ab v 'Jorb a art ofthe thrust before-it is exerted upon tl ie inner load-carryingportion ofthe cushion. I "Means are provided for retaining the cushion firmly inposition between the .two

" that the cushion will constitute the sole con-.

; ber.

rims and if desired this means may-be such nection between the two rims,as'is the casein both forms of the invention here illus-.,

trated, although obviously other con ncctions "can be providedshouldthis be ,QCCOSSHIYM "so-long as these other connections, 10 not interfer'c with the action ot'thc cushion.- I p'refor to connect thecushion with the rim by providing the cushion and the respective rimswith interlocking parts, preferably in the form of lugs carried by oneiiicnibcraud adaptedto enter recesses in the other incin- In the presentconstruction. I have shown the inner riin provided with a series ofprojections, preferably in the form of lugs 9 "igidlysecured thereto,spaced apart about thecircumference thereof and, in the presentinstance, corresponding in number with the number (it spokes andarranged in lllllltillltbllt with the respective spokes The cushion isprovided with recesses or depressions, .10, adapted to receive therespective The character and arrangement of the recesses and lugs aresuch as to permit the cushion to-be sprunginto position on the inner rimand, when the lugs are properly seated in their recesses, to firmly holdthe cushion against bodily n oveinent relatively to the inner riineithercircuniferenjtially or transversely thereof. The outer surface of thecushion is piovided with a series of recesses 1.1 spaced about thecircumference 'thereof.- In the present constructionthese recesses arealso equal in number to the num iber. of spokes and are arrangedalternately -with the recesses 10 in the cushion, but ohviously thisnumbercan bevaried if this should seem desirable. 'Theouter nn is'provided with lugs adapted to enter the respective recesses, and tofacilitate the placing of the outer rim on tliecushioii I have rim sothat they can be placed in position before the outer rim is' mounted ontlie it i cushion, and then secured to that riin." In 7 .theconsi'ruction shownin Figs. 1 andQ. each lug comprises a block ot.metal, 12, which is rigidly secured to a strip of nictal,'13,-ex-

about equal to the \\'idth of the outer rim,

which" projects beyond the edges of the cushioin'and they areattachedtliereto by means of fattacliing I devices, such as thescre'wslhthus firmly sccuring'the outer rini to the cushion, andinasmuch as Qhe cushion is firmly secured to the inner rim it willapparent thatthc two rims) are firmly connected one to the other. v

In that form olfsthe inventionshown in Figs. 1 and 2 I depend upon theinterlocking connections between the cushion and the inner and outerruns to holdthe several parts agaiust'lateral movement relativelyone tothe other. IIIFIQS. 3 and 4: I have illustrate'd'a slightlylllOtllfiOtlfOl'lli oi the inven tion in whichadd tional means areprovided.

to prevent the lateral movement of the riins andcushion relatively pncto the otin'r. As

flange 15. A cushion 16, which may be siinilartO the one abovedescribed, is mounted on the inner riin bct-weentlic flanges 15 which Ifirmly hold the same against lalci'al'dis pla ceiiicnl','whilc theprojecting lugs 17 of the inncrrini extcnd into the sockets. orrecesses, 18, of the cushion and i-ll'cctuall hold the cushion againstcircunitereiitial inovcinent relatively to the rim. The outer lIZi'iagainst relative lateral rim and cushion are provided withinterlocking'parts-to-hol'd the, same against (:ireun1 ferential movemnt-relatirely one to the other, but theseinterlocking parts are notrelied upon to hold the rim and the eushion movement. cushion isprovided in its outer surt'aee with a series of recesses 19 whieh,'inthis form of Y thedevice, may if desired extend across' the cushion.These reeesses'are adaptedto re- .eeiv'e lugs, or locking deviees flt),which are placed therein before the outer rim isplaeed 1 in positionthereon and are then secured 'to tudinal openings 2st and the flanges23'have 26 are tightened. The flanges '15 and 255, on' the inner andoutie'r'rmw. are of such width that there will a ways he a rspacehetween theouter riin after'fthe latter has h'een applied to thecushion. In thist'ori'n ot tlie-tle- 7 Vice also I have provided anouter rim which i is adapted 'ilofttlll'y a 'ru'hber tire and have shownthis rim-as dividpd elreuml'erenttallyv into two substantially equalparts, to nable the-wheel to be readily assenihled. This -t no part rimis indicated hv thereterenee nu- -merais 21mm 22, and each part has 'adepending flange 23 which overlaps the adjacent edg'esotthecushion andholds the eushion anti the outer rim against relative lateral movement.The lugs :20 may he seeureti to the rim in any suitable manner; but Ipreferto utilize for this purpose the same looit o means of which thetwo part rim is his end the lugs-20 are provided with longisee-n'edtothe cushionand to the. tire. I Toopenings adaptedto he positioned inalineinent with the openings in the respettive lugs 20. "Bolts 26 extendthrough the open:-

, ings in thet'l'anges and in the lugs and serve to connecttogether thetwo partsof therim and to seeure the lugs rigidly 'tolheirnn. The tirepreferably SQt'llltti to. the outer rim by use of wedge-shaped rlng's.In the eonstruetioii here shown these rings are provided h thickeningand 'taperingfthe edges of the parts iiland '22 of the rim; as shown at27, and these tapered or wedge-shaped edges are drawn iiito .elampin'gengagement with the. metal base of the tire when the holts the a lia-(-ent edgesof tlieiiangeson the rorrespondingsides of the cushion,thus allow-- ing" for the eoml'n't' siioit of the cushion. 1 In ordertofacilitate the assemhlin; of the wheeltlu': cushion niay. desired,harefiis outer portion of a width greater than the normaldistance het'een the tiang'esi i, in-

stead oi hat'iug' its lateral ed 'es of increased thieltn-ss. When theflanges are drawn to their normal iositions. lw the :holts Q torted andthe lateral eusli-ion will hefthit-lceneth thus i\'in; the same etl'ertas if the lateral portions had llltll made of. greaterth-ieliness inthefirst plave. hut ruahling the outer rim to he The 'to the detailseonstrimtion as various modifications will oreur to personsskilledin.t-heart. i

.96, the ruhher oi tne cushion will he disportlons'of the more easilyplaced about the cushion. This form same 1 and 2, hut has alsoadditional'means for seeurihg the several parts firmly against lat ofeonstruetiou has suhistantiall) the ra! displaeenlent,which} underCertain eirrtmtstanees, may he desirahleu it will he apparent from theiorego ng do for, as'to retain thelspaee between the two rims perimnently elosed.

the wheel may. he readilr assembled and that when the wheel is assembledthe Cushion will against d1s plarement, relatit'ely to the two runs.Zlhe character of-the at'lvantahes as has that shown in Figs,

l'iurther it will he apparent that the eonstriletiou is such thatscription thatf the' Cushioning device, as 1'" have eonstrueted it; hasa very high degreeof eushtonm; action-and is of'sueh a eharau v 'iVhileI have shown anddefi rihed one em'hodiment of myiinrentgion I wish it tohe understood.that I do notzdesire to he limited Having nowfullydeserihed my invention,

what l. (-laim as new and desire to set-are hy Letters Patent, 1szi. Ina wheel,v an inner rim, an outer rim of greater diameter than said innerrnn,

said rims having; their; adjacent surt a'ees substantially parallel oneto the other and having their adjaeent"lateral'edges spaced i apart, acushioning derive oi- \'ieldahle"ma-- 't'eri'al interposed hetwei n saidrims and hayn its edge portionsoi' greater tluekness than the centralportion thereof to maintain the spat-es hetween the'edges otsaid rims"closed. I

. 2 in a wheel an inner rim, an outer-rim of greater diameter than saidinner rim. a

euslu'on ol' \-'ieldahle material interposed he: tween said .rm'is andhaving its lateral edge portions of a thirkness greattur than thethltlmess of theintermediate portion therelot] or, and greater than thenormal distant-e,

hetween the adjacent portions oi said 'rims, 3. in a wheel an inner run,an outer rim oi greater diameter than said inner ri-ni', a-

rus'hiouot'. \'ieldahle' material interposedhe tween said rims andhaving its lateral edge port ions of a-"thu-kuessgreater .thanthethit-k'ness oi"theintot-mediate portion thereof and. greateathan thenormal distance hetweeirsaid rims, and ot' a g Eater ielda'- -hil.itthan the internualiate portion-of said cushionl i i 4. In a wheel, aninner run. an out'errim .o'i greater diameter than said inner rim, an

annular;handor" yieldzhle material inter posed hetween said rimsandhating its eehtral' portion. of a thieltuess substantially equal in thenormal distance hetween said tween the lateral edges thereof, and therespective grooves. s

G. .A cushion for a wheel comprising an.

annular band of 'yi'eldable material having Z in bothlits inner andouter surfaces circumfere-ntial grooves, the "grooves in each surfacebeing spaced one from the other, said band also having ts lateralportions of greater thickness tli'z-in the intermediate por--tioiitliereof and having inieach of said lat- 25 eral portions acircumferent al opening.

7. In-a. wheel, aiiiiiner run, an outer rim of greater diameter thansaid inner rim, a

cushion of yieldable material"interposed between said rims,and devicesfor connecting 3Q. saidouter rim to said cushion, saiddevices beingadapted to be applied to said cushion before'said outerrini is placedinpositioii,

thereon and to beconnectcd to said outer rim after it has been placedin'position on :5 said cushion. .8, In a wheel, an inner rim, an outerrim of greater dia inetfertlian.saidinnerrim, a cushion ofyieldablematerialinterposed between said rims, said cushion having recesses 40 inthat surface thereof adjacent to said outer rim, lugs (adapted to. entersaidrecesses, and means tose'cure said lu'gs'to said fouter rim afterthe' latter; has been placed in position on said cushion. 9,,Iii awheel, an inner riiii,-a.n outer run .of greater diameter than saidinner rim, a-

cus'liion of yie-ldable material interposed be -.tween' said rims, saidcushion and said iii- -'ner rim having interlocking parts'so arj rangedthatsaid cushion maybe sprung into position, on said inner rim, saidcushion liav ingrecesses 'inthat surface thereof adjacent .tosaidouterrini, lugs adapted to enter the respective recesses, and meansto secure said lugs tosaid outerriin after the latter has been placed inposition onsaid cushion.

i '10, I In awhee'h'ain inner riin, an outer'rinr of; greater diaiieterfthan said inner rim, a

, cushion ofyieldable. niaterial interposed be'-" tween said rims,said.edsliion haviiig recesses iifthat surfacethereofad a'ceiit to. saidouter rim, lugs adapted to enter the respect ve re =cesses, strips ofmetal secured totherespective lugs, extending transversely of said 65,cushion and'adapted'to be secured tosaid outerrini after it has beenplaced in position on' said cushion. I

11.'In a wheel, an inner rim-having lugsspaced about the peripherythereof-- an'outer rim, of greater diameter than said inner rim, 7O

an annular band of yieldable material interposed between said rims andhaving a series of recesses in the inner sidethereof to receive therespective lugs'on saidinner rim, and alsohaving a series of recesses inthe outer surface thereof, a. seriesof. lugs formed separate from saidouter rim "and adapted to enter the recesses-in said band,'and means forconnecting said lugs with said outer rim after the latter has beenplaced in posi- 80. tion on said cushion. w 12. In a wheel, anv innerllll'l navin'glugs spaced about the periphery-thereof, an outer rim-ofgreat-er diaineter than said inner rim,

an annular band of yieldable material inter-v posed between saidriinsand having a series of recesses in the inner-side thereof to --re-'c'eive the respective lugs on said inner im, and also having a series ofrecesses in the outer surface thereof, aseries of lugs formed separatefrom said outer rim and adapted to enter the recesses in said band, andmeans for connecting said lugs with said'outer rim after the latter hasbeen placed in position on said cushion, said cushion also havingeircumferentially extendingfidepressions formed in the inner and outersurfaces thereof.v

a In a wheel, an inner rim, anout'er rim of greater diameter than theinner rim and,

having inwardly extending flanges. at .itslateral edges, a-eushion ofyielda-ble material interposed between said rims and between the flangesof saidoutcr rim, saicheushion having recesses'in that surface thereofad- J-ACGHt to said/outer ri in,'.lugs reinovably mounted in saidrecesses, and means for securing said lugs'to said outer riin after thelatter has been placed in position about said cushion.

. 14. In a wheel, an inner rin an outer riiii of greaterdiameter thantlie i'iiner rim and having inwardly extending flanges at its ]at- 5eral edges,a cushion of yieldable material interposed between said'rimsand between the flanges of said outer rim, said '01 x having recesses intliat'surface thereof 2 jacent to said outer rim, lugsrein mounted insaid recesses, and bolttsi .t curing said lugs to the flanges of saidcarter;- 1'20 rim.

15; Inga wheel, an inner-rim, an outer rim divided cireiimferentiallyinto two, parts and,

having at its lateraledges inwardly extend ing flanges, a cushionofyieldable material interposed between StllCll'llTlSill'lfl between the'flaiigcsof said outer rim and having recesses in the outers'urface'thereof, lugs reinovably mounted-in .said recesses, and bolts jextendingthrough said flanges and through the re iective lugs: toconnecttogether-the two parts of said outer rim and to secure eaid h1gthereto.

i rim against relative circuinferential move-- thetlangestd the outerrim normallyspaced portion ofsaid cushion which is between the flangesof said outer rnn being It In a wheel, an innerrim having outwardlyextending flanges at its lateral edges,

an outer rim l'iaving inwardl extending, liane'es'at its outer(itlgt'sfjtl cushion-oi yieldable n'iate'rial interposed betweensaid 1rims, said cushion and said inner run having interloclmig parts to holdthe ,cuslnonant-l ment, Said etishionalso having recesses in .the outersurface thereof, lugs mounted 1n,

jsaid recesses. and means-tor detachably Se! ,eurmg said lugs tosaidouter rnn the comlnne l.'wu-lth ol' the QOI'I'OSPOIHlH-Ig flanges onsaid innera'nd out-errim being lees than .the thickness of said cushion.17. In a wheel, an inner rim having ontwardly extending flanges; at itslateral edges, 1 .an: outer rnn having nwardlyextending flanges at; itslateral edges and divided'c'ir clinnt'erentiallv. into two parts, acushion of \-'i'eldable material interposed between said l'llllq'andotsueh a.thickness as to maintain away t'ronrthe 'ttane'es of. theinner rim; said '(fllSlHOll and said inner rnn havmgnrterlocki'ngrparts; and said cushion having recesses in its outertsurfaceextending for the full. w dth thereof, elongated lugs mount-' ed in saidreceses, and bolts-for connecting together the-two parts Of'SZHClOUlICIIIID and for securing said lugs thereto after the severalparts haverbeenassembled. I

- 18. In a wheel, an inner rim, an outer rimdivided circumfereutiallyinto two parts' and having; at its-lateral edges extending, flanges, acushion of yieldable rims and 'r'ini,' that arranged.

material interposed between said between the flanges 'of sald outer of"reater width than the normal distance betweensai d flanges, and saidcushion also having recesses 1n the outer surface thereof,

lugs mounted in said recesses, and. bolts'extending through said flangesland; through the respective lugs to draw together the two inwardly.hereto.

parts of said outer rim and compress said cushion between the flanges:thereof and to secure saidluga to said rim.

12-). ln'awheel. an inner rimQanfouter rim divided circun'iferentiallinto two parts and having at its lateral edge; inwardly extending flangea cushion of v1eldable material interposed between said rims and betweenthe [hinges-0t said outer rim, that ,POI'tlOll of ,said cushion.\\'lllCl1 llCS between thetlangee of .eaid outer riiii being of greaterwidth than the normal spare between said flanges. and mean to draw Saidllauges td .g'ether them.

to compress I said cushion between 20. In a wheel. an o,Ql'atelf"diameter cushion of yieldable inner rim, an outer rim thansaid inner run, a material interposed be tween said rims, a tire to besecured to said outer rim and havinga base, thevlateral edgesbf whichare inclined outwardly, said outer rinr being divided circumfercntiallyinto two parts and each part being provided with aprojeetion to engagetl' adjacent inclined edge of the base of said tire,mean.-s for drawingtogether the two parts of said rimto move said projections into clampingengagement with said the 21.11; a wheel. an inner rinnan outer rim ofgreater diameter than Sttltl inner run and having; inwardly extendingflanges. a cushsaideprojections into clamping engagement with saldtireand to cause said flanges to compress the cushion between them;

I-n-testimony whereof. I athx my signature nome WALTHER'.

